Skein-handling machine



Filed Feb. 26, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor;

July 31, 1934. E J ABBOTT 1,968,474

SKEIN HANDLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 26, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inverztm:

Zia a rd :LA b&azt, @fl/m $4M 72119 A figs.

July 31, 1934. J ABBOTT 1,968,474

SKEIN HANDLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 26, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor H Edward TIA wat Q @WMMW%7 km A #96.

July 31, 1934. J. T 1,968,474

SKEIN HANDLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 26, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 jag .3

j Inven tm;

Edward JA &&0z,

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July 31, 1934. ABBOTT 1,968,474

SKEIN HANDLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 26, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor,"

\ m3 Edward J A wa kw Attjs.

Patented July 31, 1934 warren 's'r PATENT QFFICE SKEIN-HANDLING MACHINE Application February 26, 1931, Serial No. 518,433

7 Claims.

1 material from the skeins and the consumption or manipulation of the material by any multiple-unit I strand using or manipulating mechanism such for example asthe winding device above mentioned. My invention further aims to provide holders for skeins adapted to circulate in a predetermined path with circulating strand manipulating devices, typically winding instrumentalities, in such a way that strands may be unreeled from the various holders and fed directly from skeins to'the strand manipulating mechanisms concomitantly with the circulation of these mechanisms about the machine. In this connection my invention provides novel constructional features which permit strand manipulating devices such as the wind ing machines of my Patent No. 1,609,639, and of the patent of E. J. Abbott and W. G. Abbott, No. 1,700,425 to carry, during their circulatory movement, supply skeins for rewinding, and in such manner that the machine as a whole, including the skeins and their holders is economical of floor space. Circulatory winding machines of the class described in the above patents typically include a plurality of carriers movable in a procession along a guideway constituted of upper and lower rails, each of the carriers including a vertical frame element adapted substantially to bridge the distance between these rails, which retains the carrier in a vertical plane as the carrier is circulated about the machine. The present invention provides skein holding mechanism utilizing this vertical frame member of the circulatory carrier as a support, and provides, in a preferred form, for retaining a relatively large skein of material to be rewound in a generally vertical position relatively close to this vertical frame element so as not to project unduly from the traveling carrier.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism operable with respect to the several circulating skein holders for collapsing the skein holders at a predetermined part of their path of travel, for expanding the skein holders at another part of their path of travel, and preferably for performing both of these operations successively as the skein holders are circulated about the machine. My invention preferably provides in conjunction with such devices for collapsing and expanding the skein holders, devices for stopping and starting operation of the strand manipulating or using mechanism at about the points at which the skein holders are collapsed and expanded. My invention also provides tension devices adapted to tension the strands leading from the skein holders, and mechanism whereby the tension devices are opened for ready insertion of replenishment strands therein in that region of the path of travel in which the strand holders are collapsed and winding stopped, and also provides for returning the tension devices to their normal operative positions at about the part of the path of travel at which the skein holders are expanded and unwinding from the skein is begun.

Other objects of the invention, advantages and features of novelty will be apparent from a consideration of the specific instance of my invention l explained by way of example only in the specification and the drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a circulatory carrier winding machine in which the present invention is incorporated, this view omitting many of the frame, driving and controlling parts of this machine and showing only a few of the numerous circulatory winding and unwinding carriers of the machine; I

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the right-hand side of the machine of Fig. l, i1lustrating one end of the machine at which an operator may conveniently be stationed;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing one of the circulatory carriers of the machine at a point in its path of travel at which the skein holder of the carrier is expanded, the tension device of the carrier is closed and the Winding instrumentalities of the carrier are in operation;

Fig. 3a is a side elevation of the carrier shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 showing one of the carriers of the machine at a point of its path of travel at which the skein holder of the carrier is collapsed, the tension device is open and the winding mechanism is stopped; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation of parts of a device for controlling the position of the winding package on the traveling carrier.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 the machine illustrated includes, in common with the machines of the above patents and of my application Serial No. 476,776, a continuous guideway constituted of upper and lower rails 4 and 5 supported by a suitable frame and defining a closed path of circulation for a large number of winding carriers (Fig. 1), said path as illustrated comprising opposite straight runs connected by semi-circular runs. Suitable means for moving the car-j riers along the guideway may include an endless chain running on sprockets 36, one of which sprockets is suitably driven, the carriers being severally connected to this chain as described in my application Serial No. 476,776 or as described in the above patents, so as to'be moved by the chain in the direction of the arrow X in Fig.

1. As preferably constructed, an individual winding carrier includes an upright plate-like frame element 60 adapted to bridge the distance between the rails 4 and 5 and provided at its lower end with a horizontal bracket 100 having studs 101 projecting therefrom, upon which are mounted anti-friction rollers 62 and 63, these rollers embracing between them the vertical flange of the rail 5.

At its upper end the vertical plate 60 may be integral with or attached to an upper head portion 65 (Fig. 3a) of the carrier, for example by bolts 64. Upon such upper head portion 65 are mounted vertically and horizontally disposed rollers 80 and 81 (Fig. 3) which run on the upper rail 4. The head 65 has upwardly projecting parallel end plates 66 and 67 spaced apart to provide room between them for a rotary traverse cylinder (Fig. 3) having a spiral groove therein for operating a reciprocatory traverse guide 106 in the general manner described in the patent of E. J. and W. G. Abbott, No. 1,700,425, and, as illustrated, in the specific manner described in my copending application, Serial No. 476,776. The head portion 65 of the carrier is preferably provided with a cover plate 110 (Fig. 3a) extending over the traverse cam 70, and including a substantially flat horizontal portion adjacent to the traverse guide 106, and a downwardly and outwardly sloping portion terminating in an upturned flange 112 interrupted to form a central gate 114 (Fig. 3a).

The end plate 66 of the head portion of the carrier is preferably extended as shown at 68 130i provide a bearing 69 for a stud 73 (Fig. 3) on a lever arm 71 carrying a spindle 72 for the winding core W or other strand receiver. The arm 71 may be made in parts, comprising (Fig. 3) a tubular portion 71 split at 71 and having lugs bored for a pinch bolt 71, the tubular clamp so formed taking over an end piece 71 carrying the spindle 72. On loosening the pinch bolt 71 the part 71 may be adjusted to vary the angle of the spindle 72; by such adjustment the spindle may be held horizontal for the winding of cylindrical packages or cheeses, or inclined for the winding of cones.

For operating the rotary traverse cam 70 and rotating the winding package core W (or a package wound thereon) to wind a strand thereon, the present machine preferably employs the elongated rotary tractor rolls of the machine of the above Patent No. 1,700,425. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 these tractor rolls, indicated by the reference characters 50 and 51, are mounted in suitable bearings 52 approximately directly over the straight portions of the upper rail 4 of the guideway, in a position (as shown in Fig. 3) to contact with and rotate the winding strand packages and rotary traverse earns 70 of the several carriers as the latter pass along the straight portions of the guideway. These rotary tractor rolls 50 and 51 may be driven at a relatively high speed by any suitable driving connections such for example as those disclosed in my Patent No. 1,603,639, or in the patent of E. J. and W. G. Abbott, No. 1,700,425, or those described in my copending application Serial No. 476,776.

Ihe length of the lever arm 71 is such as to bring the surface of a winding package core W or the winding thereon always into surface con tact with one of the rolls 50 or 51 adjacent to which the carriage 10 is being traversed. The offset position of the center 73 is such as to provide an arm 71 long enough to sweep a suflicient are for the expected radius of the core W and the winding upon it. In normal operation the weight of the arm 71 and its attachments holds the winding mass firmly in frictional contact with the upper surface of the tractor roll 50 or 51.

Each carrier of the present machine preferably includes, in common with the machine of my application Serial No. 476,776, mechanism operable to swing the winding package away from the tractor roll 50 or 51 as the end of the tractor roll is reached, and mechanism operable thereafter to return the winding package, or a new core substituted therefor, into contact with the tractor roll of the machine after the semi-circular end portion of the guideway has been traversed. Such mechanism preferably includes mechanical connections for swinging the package carrying arm 71 in opposite directions, these connections including (Figs. 3a and 3) a crank arm 300, a lifter link 301, a crank 302 fast on a shaft 303, and a dog 304 pivotally mounted at 316 on the shaft 303, the dog 304 being adapted to engage a'horizontal pin 307 preferably disposed as shown in Fig. 2 adjacent to the end of the tractor roll 50. The dog 304, which may normally be caused to occupy an inclined position (as in Fig. 3) by any suitable strand-responsive detector device as disclosed in my application Serial No. 476,776, and may be brought to a vertical position to engage pin 307 by a cam 310 disposed to engage a projection 311 at the upper part of the dog. Upon engaging this pin 307 the dog 304, detained thereby, rotates shaft 303 and crank 302, raises lifter rod 301 and swings the package carrying arm 71 in a clockwise direction, from the position of Fig. 3 to the position of Fig. 4.

This operation, in addition to stopping driving of the winding package, presents the winding package in a more convenient position for the attention of an operator and also prevents the package from dropping after leaving the tractor roll 50 or 51. Upon traversing the semi-circular end portion of the guideway and reaching the other tractor roll of the machine, the winding package may be returned by hand to contact with this tractor roll, but preferably the linkage connections previously described are operated in the reverse direction to effect such return. As shown in Fig. 5, the dog 304 is provided with a curved cam-surface 304 on one side, which is brought uppermost when the dog has been swung by the pin 307 as described. In this position this curved surface 304 is in position to strike an upper pin 320 extending from the rail 4 at the point at which it is desired to return the package into contact with the tractor roll. Contact of the cam surface 304 of the 'dog with this pin 320 scribed and lowers-the package or a new core into. contact with'the tractonroll.

These same operations may be caused to take place :at both..'cnds of the machine by the pro vision of suitablepins-307 and 320 atappropriate places onz-the-rail 4- atfleach :end of the. machine.

Each of the carriers ;10.is:provided with suitable meansfor holding a skein of strand. material in extended state y-for unreeling'to supply a strand to .the' winding-mechanismof zthe.car-. rier, such skein holdinggmeanspreferably utilizing the vertical plate-like portion of'thecarrieras itsisupport-s shown-,in-'.Fig." 3, the skein holding reel on .the-carrier includes upper. and

lower lantern wheels 150 and 151 normallysubstantially superposed and spaced .apart so as to maintain a skein Sin anapproximately;yertical position relatively close to the yerticalplate-like number 60 of the carrier. These wheels are preferably mounted to turn onihorizontal spindle pins 153 and 154 respectiyelyg -The spindle pin 153 of the upper lantern -,wheel -is preferably held in an arm 155 extending .inwardtothevertical member 60 and adjustably-secured thereto by a bolt 156 which extends througha slot 157 -in the arm and through a vertical slo t. 1 58 .in asuitable enlargement on member .60;-the-:bolt. and-slot connection by which the arm 155 is :adjustablysecured to the vertical member so of the-carrier permits this arm and its wheel 150120 be adjusted bothverticall-y and horizontally of the carrier.

The-spindle p n 1 54-ofthe. lower-wheel lfil is carried by the outer-end of a crank 159 pivotally mounted at 160 to ;the lowerend of -the plate member 60, so as to .swingdownward by gravityand cause: the skein S to .be maintained in an open position by the-tension imparted thereto bytheopposite lantern wheels Y150 and .151. vIn order to limit the extent to which the lower wheel 151 may move downwardly the arm 159 of the bell: crank 159 is preferably provided-with an anti-friction roll 162 adapted to bear. against a rail 163 which may if desired extend completely around themachine beneath the lower guide rail 5. Rail 163 may be secured at intervals to rail 5 by suitable brackets 165.

As the carrier reaches the end of one of the tractor rolls 50 or 51 and winding is stopped by the mechanism described above it is desirable to collapse the skein holding reel so that an operator may conveniently remove a partially exhausted skein therefrom and/ or place a new skein on the skein holding reel for unwinding during passage of the carrier past the next tractor roll. For accomplishing this collapse of the reels the rail 163, which normally limits the downward movement of the lower wheel 151, is preferably bent outward as indicated at 1'70 (Fig. 2) thus to force the anti-friction roll 162 outward and raise the arm of the bell crank 159 which supports the lower wheel 151 of the reel. As shown in Fig. 2 such a bend in the rail 163 preferably is located at a point just beyond. the point of departure of the carrier from the tractor roll 50 or 51; thereafter during passage about the semicircular end portion of the machine the skeinholding reel is in collapsed position. At a corresponding point on the opposite side of the machine, just before the other tractor roll is reached,

reel and restoring it to its normal unreeling condition.

The rail 163 is preferably bent in the same manner at both ends of the machine so that the skein reel collapses upon the passage of the carrier about each semi-circular end and again expands as the carrier commences its travel along each straight portion of the guideway.

The present invention thus provides for collapsingxthe several skein holders of the machine in succession, provides for collapsing each skein holder at predetermined intervals (in the present preferred instance such interval being the time required for a skein holder to travel from one end of :the machine-to the other), and further provides for, automatically causing periods of stoppageoi winding of the strand from a skein holder and for automatically maintaining the skein holder in a collapsed state during such stoppage.

In addition, an advantageous feature of the machine consists in its ability to carry the skeins in such a path during unwinding that any unexhausted skeins are presented in succession to the operator of the machine with each skein in a position such that the operator can readily inspect the skein or repair a broken yarn thereof.

For tensioning the strand as it passes from the skein to the traverse guide 106 and winding package core or package W each carrier preferably includes a tension device comprising two intermeshing series 322 and 323 of fingers carried respectively-by shafts 322 and 323 which are mounted to turn in suitable bearings upon the cover plate 110 of the carrier. These fingers intermesh also with strand guide wires 324 which extend horizontally from close to shaft 322 to close to the shaft 323 and are fastened at either end to-the cover plate 110. The strand passing from the skein holder to the traverse eye 166 takes a sinuous course in passing between the fingers of the two series and the fixed guide wires 324, and the friction thusproduced tensions the portionof-the strand extending between this device and the winding package. As the traverse eye 106 reciprocates, the strand is allowed to slip longitudinally of the fingers in traversing a fanlike path between the yarn guide 114 and various positions of the traverse 106, thus preventing local wear on the fingers of the tension device.

The machine preferably includes means for opening the tension device of each carrier at about the point at which the skein holder of the carrier is collapsed and unwinding stopped and for closing the tension device at about the point at which the skein holder is expanded and wind ing is resumed. Such means preferably includes a pair of lifter rods 330 passing through guide eyes 331 and connected to arms 331 which extend from the respective shafts 322 and 323. A weight 350 on each lifter rod normally holds the rod down and opposes swinging of the corresponding shaft 322 or $323 to open the intermeshing tension fingers. Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4. the machine includes a cam rail 332 preferably extending substantially about the semi-circular end of the machine, and supported by brackets 333 in a position to engage the lower ends of the lifter rods 330 of the passing carriers. The cam 332 is provided (Fig. 2) with an ascending inclined portion 332 adapted to raise the lifter rods and open the intermeshing tension fingers then continues as indicated at 332 at a constant height through a distance over which it is desired to maintain the tension device open, and then is provided with a descending inclined portion opposite to portion 332, permitting the lifter rods 330 to drop and the tension fingers to close, preferably at about the time the skein reel is expanded and just before winding is resumed by contact of the package with the next adjacent tractor roll 50 or 51.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is fcr the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A textile machine having therein a plurality of collapsible holders for skeins, means for moving said holders in a procession in a predetermined path, means for unwinding from the skein holders during such motion, and means for automatically collapsing the skein holders in succession as the; reach a predetermined part of said path.

2. A textile machine having therein a plurality of collapsible holders for skeins, means for moving said holders in a procession in a predetermined path, means for unwinding from the skein holders during such motion, means for automatically collapsing the skein holders in succession as they reach a predetermined part of said path, and means for expanding the skein holders to their normal unwinding state.

3. A textile machine having therein a movable carrier, a guideway defining a path of travel for the carrier, means for moving the carrier along said guideway, a skein holder on the carrier including spaced rotatable members adapted to extend within a skein and adapted normally to maintain the skein extended for unwinding therefrom, and means for causing one of said rotatable members to approach the other when the carrier reaches a predetermined part of the said path, to facilitate placing a fresh skein on said holder.

4. A textile machine having therein a collapsible reel for holding a supply skein in an extended state for unreeling therefrom, means for moving the reel in a predetermined path, means for winding a strand package from the skein material during a part only of such motion of the skein reel, a tension device movable with the reel for tensioning the strand being wound, said tension device including elements normally frictionally engaging the strand, means for holding said tension elements apart during travel of the reel following cessation of winding of the strand, and means for collapsing the reel and for maintaining the said reel in a collapsed state following' cessation of winding of the strand, thereby to facilitate placing on the reel a fresh skein and associating the strand thereof with said tension device.

5. A textile machine having therein a plurality of collapsible skein holders, means for unwinding from skeins held by the skein holders, means adapted to act on a skein holder to collapse it, and means for causing a relative movement between said skein holders and said collapsing means such that the collapsing means acts on the several skein holders in succession.

6. A textile machine having therein a collapsible skein holder, means for unwinding from skeins held by the skein holder, means adapted to act on the skein holder for collapsing the skein holder and traveling means for bringing said collapsing means into operative relation to said skein holder at predetermined intervals.

7. A textile machine having therein a collapsible skein holder adapted normally to hold a skein in an expanded state, winding means adapted to unwind from the skein held by said skein holder, means for automatically causing periods of stoppage of such winding operation and means adapted to act on the skein holder for collapsing the skein holder and for maintaining said skein holder in a collapsed state and traveling means for bringing said collapsing means into operative relation to said skein holder during such periods of stoppage.

EDWARD J. ABBOTT. 

